The taste of something sweeter...

10 December 2018

Mariah Carey is back on the radio, mince pies mountains have formed in the bakery aisle and I'm wrestling with whether or not it's acceptable to get my Dad socks - again. It must be the festive season! At this time of year sales of dessert wines always spike as drinkers up and down the land look to indulge in something sweet. Sometimes...

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Behind the scenes... your order's journey

10 December 2018

Only two weeks to go until Christmas, and we hope you're having a busy season! Avoid running out of stock, get your orders in and make sure you've got plenty for the couple of day's we're closed for on Christmas day, Boxing day and New Year's day! In the meantime, why not come behind the scenes in this short video...

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Sam's musings on Sparkling Wine - #MDWB

20 November 2018

Once the preserve of the special occasion more and more UK drinkers are turning to fizz for their tipple of choice - and why not!? Bursting with bubbles and lively flavours they can bring a bit of sparkle to your mid-week, as much as the weekend. This month we'll take a look at some of the different styles available and highlight my personal faves! Prosecco,...

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Bringing brewing back to Islington

26 November 2018

Hammerton Brewery originally began brewing in London in 1868. Sadly, it ceased to brew in the late 1950s, and was later demolished. However, in 2014, a member of the Hammerton family decided to resurrect the family name, officially bringing brewing back to Islington, a London borough with great beer making heritage. Today, Hammerton beers are based on both modern and traditional brewing techniques, influenced not...

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tailored to accompany and complement

23 November 2018

Long Tail mixers are created by Alex and Tom, two friends who share a passion for dark spirits. On their travels, they discovered the flavours and cultures that come with drinking dark spirits, inspiring them to explore and find alternative pairings for their favourite tipples. Disappointed with what was available to accompany drinks such as rums, whiskies and bourbons, they set about creating their own...

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A dash of new world flair

22 November 2018

Brixton Brewery was founded in 2013 by two local couples who shared a passion for beer. They met years before that in a bar, and bonded over newborn babies...and a dream of opening a brewery! Their beer is hand crafted in small batches, drawing on traditional techniques, flavours and ingredients with a dash of bold New World flair for distinctiveness. All of their ingredients...

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Festive Gins!

21 November 2018

With the festive season officially in full swing, take a look at these two cracking gins that have recently hit our shelves! If you're looking for a Christmassy gin that stands out on your back bar, look no further - Yuletide gin is a jolly tipple, using a host of festive botanicals, as well as ingredients which are traditionally festive...

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Meet Sam, our #MDWB

20 November 2018

I'm here as your modern-day wine buff or #MDWB for short, to chat simply about wine, a drink I love and can't get enough of! Throughout the year I'll be offering advice on tipples of the moment and what works well with food. Let's break through the jargon that sometimes trips everyone up (even if no one admits it). Whether it's...

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Mixologist Diary - Circo Bar

12 November 2018

Nestled within the cobbled streets of Bath, is an underground bar that offers a chic blend of the old and new; whilst fun takes centre stage in their mixology ethos. Circo Bar has one of the most extensive back bars, with a stunning array of cocktails on offer, as well as a comprehensive champagne, wine and spirits list, served...

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One Mile End Cask Ale are here... Once they're gone, they're gone!

09 November 2018

Have you seen, we've just released limited stock of two cracking cask ales?! Brewed in conjunction with the London Brewers Alliance, One Mile's Snakecharmer IPA and Docker's Delight Bitter are here but once they're gone they're gone! One Mile Snakecharmer IPA is a fruity IPA dry-hopped

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bringing back a forgotten story

For centuries, travellers, traders and explorers have been drawn to the Indonesian islands. The bounty they found? Indonesian rum! Once the luxury choice of drinkers in the finest punch houses and bordellos across the globe, but in today's world it's a long forgotten this history. Created by four friends who share a passion for great booze, good times and Indonesia's island life, Nusa...

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inspired by the streets of soho

23 October 2018

The King of Soho adds a splash of pink to its line-up with a new strawberry flavoured Variorum Gin. The creation of Alex Robson and Howard Raymond, the gin is inspired by the streets of Soho, a passion that Raymond inherited from his father, Paul Raymond. Affectionately known as the 'King of Soho', Raymond, a property and entertainment tycoon, forms...

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CAT DUERR, RAOULS BAR

With summer beaming at us from all angles, we chatted all things rum with Cat from Raoul's bar and caught up on what they're doing in Oxford, as part of our mixologist's diary. Established in 1979, Raoul's Bar and liquor store is a space for Cat and the team to create. This is where their passion for mixology...

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Gary Whiter, The Cabinet Rooms

It's common knowledge that the UK is enjoying a gin revival, with an unprecedented array of craft gins launching in the marketplace, since Sipsmiths sparked important changes in the world of distillation back in 2009. Around that time, Gary Whiter was about to embark on a Martini masterclass aboard the Queen Mary 2, while en route to New York. His...

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Callum and Ross, The Hideout

World Whisky Day is around the corner, so in honour of the fine spirit we caught up with Callum Rixson and Ross Mullins from The Hideout in Bath to talk all things whisky and find out which of their 160 different styles of the 'water of life' is topping their bar this month! Hidden away in the historical lanes of...

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LLOYD BROWN, THE GREY BEAR BAR CO

This month we'd like you to meet Lloyd Brown, who heads up the Grey Bear Bar company, a bar consultancy and training company as well as being brand ambassador and distiller for Porters Perfection vodka (he's a busy man!). Having worked with us closely for nearly a decade, and previously run the Venner Bar at The Bull Hotel in Bridport...

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Elliott Skehel, Lab 22

In the heart of Cardiff is Lab 22, a unique venue offering a truly scientific approach to your sense of mixology enjoyment. Sleek and chic yet abundant in character, Lab 22 is the place where real magic happens. A place where elements collide and senses come alive. Lab 22 encourages the extraordinary and encourages the unusual. A creative cocktail bar...

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Hannah Wainright, The Treehouse

This August we're heading over to Beaconsfield to meet Hannah Wainwright of The Treehouse and Laurie Othen who have 'talked all things tequila' with us. The Treehouse was first established in 2010 and is part of Drinkwell Bars, a small bar group in the Chilterns. The Treehouse specialises in fantastic cocktails, a proportion of which are made with products made...

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